The Barn

By Will Todd

This is a Television Pilot Package, specifically a 1/2 hour dramedy about "a struggling community theater, presented in 5-episode arcs each based on a well-known musical."

I wrote "THE BARN" several years ago, well before the coupling of Song and Series began to dominate the televised landscape. Perhaps that's why, at the time, this particular programming barn was never "raised".

It would still be a risky venture, mainly because of its unique format.

And because in television, unlike its theatrical counterpart, sometimes "The show musn't go on."

[Note: I'm a screenwriter ("THE WONDER YEARS", "TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES") and this package includes a pilot script presented in its original teleplay format.]

• Language: English
• Publisher: Will Todd
• Release date: Mar 29, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476116723

Will Todd

ALL ABOUT TODD1960: Born.1961-1982: Grew up. Did non-writing stuff.1983-1985: Worked with NASA as Aerospace Engineer. Started writing scripts part-time for no money.1986-1987: Started writing scripts full-time for no money.1988-1990: Wrote for first two seasons of "THE WONDER YEARS". Nominated for Emmy, Humanitas, and Writers Guild Awards. Won Humanitas and Writers Guild. Lost Emmy to pilot of "Murphy Brown" but I'm not bitter anymore especially since show never lived up to its potential.Wrote the first two "TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES" movies. Became rich, but with occasional pangs of guilt.1991-1992: Tried to elevate the quality of films coming out of Holywood by rejecting all script assignments and writing only on spec. I.E., Obscurity and Unemployment.1993-1995: Ran away to Europe for a few months, returned, wrote first play. Ran away to Asia for a few months, returned, directed first short film.1996: Stopped running long enough to get in line to write a feature film version of "I Dream of Jeannie". BLINK! Next.1997-1999: Completed Quest for Seven Continents with travels to Africa, Australia, South America, and Antarctica (whiter even than The Blank Page).2000-2002: Solidified reputation as International Man of Leisure. Blew it by writing a book in here somewhere.2003-2005: Nap.2006-2007: Wrote, produced, and directed a 90-minute compilation of comedy shorts called "42 STORY HOUSE". Sold very nearly that many DVD'S.2008-2009: Pangs of guilt concerning sudden wealth now a distant memory, sought status as "Too Big To Fail". Failed.2010: Attempted to finance an indie movie called "WHY THE SQUIRREL WON'T FRY". Fried.2011:Published first eBook "THE TELLING OF MY MARCHING BAND STORY". Fell.2012: Published some eScreenplays to see if anybody was interested in reading eScreenplays. Seriously, anybody. Hel-loooooooooo...?2013-2014: Started YouTube Channel "Todd Trumpet Videos". Reached "Blockbuster" (LLC) status.2015-2016: Wrote "A CHRISTMAS CODA". Received lavish praise from Dickens Experts. Who - "Bah! Humbug!" - apparently don't impress the General Public.2017: Adapted "A CHRISTMAS CODA" into a stage play. Learned Broadway and Hollywood, despite being on opposite sides of the country, actually share the same Welcome Mat.2018-2019: Achieved Complete World Domination. (Pending)

Book preview

THE BARN

A 1/2 Hour Dramedy Series

by

Will Todd

*************************

Copyright 2012 Will Todd

Smashwords Edition

*************************

Table Of Contents

About This Package

Section 1: Introduction

Basic Premise

Why Community Theater?

Why Me?

Section 2: Unique Elements

The 5-By-5 Season

The Metaphor

Single Camera/Single Stage

The 4th Wall

The Risk

Section 3: Characters

Bill Williams

Maria Bunson

Barney Lumberg

Gloria Twink

Vic Howitzer

Dolly Wagner

Pierce Radcliffe

Other Characters

Section 4: The Pilot

The Hills Are Alive, Barely

Section 5: Future Episodes

Short-Term

Long-Term

The Musicals

All About Todd

******************************

ABOUT THIS PACKAGE

This is a Television Pilot Package, specifically a 1/2 hour dramedy about a struggling community theater, presented in 5-episode arcs each based on a well-known musical.

I wrote THE BARN several years ago, well before the coupling of Song and Series began to dominate the televised landscape. Perhaps that's why, at the time, this particular programming barn was never raised.

It would still be a risky venture, mainly because of its unique format.

And because in television, unlike its theatrical counterpart, sometimes The show musn't go on.

Will Todd

Spring 2012

******************************

Section 1: Introduction

******************************

BASIC PREMISE

THE BARN is a 1/2 hour dramedy series that offers a behind-the-scenes look at a struggling community theater, presented in 5-episodes arcs, each based on a well-known musical.

- The Barn is the name of a local theater housed in a (crumbling) structure that originated as an actual working barn. Converted decades ago to serve as the community’s plow blade of culture, it’s a place where the average Joe and Jane can try out for a part in their favorite middlebrow musicals. It’s the (provincial) glory of live theater...

- ...on a very low budget. Attendance has fallen off in recent years. The Barn is not what it used to be. In fact, unless this bleeding can be stemmed, the final curtain will soon fall. Fortunately, new management is imminent. If somewhat reluctant...

- The Barn is really a play-within-a-play, or rather, a series of plays within a series of plays. It’s the stories of our local characters interwoven with the material they struggle to ready for performance. It’s an intentional blurring of the line between real and theatrical.

- The idea then is a classic behind-the-scenes premise with a twist: The scenes (musicals) will influence and occasionally even merge with what’s behind them. For more on this important aspect of the series, see Unique Elements: The Metaphor (including Other Ways To Skin A Story).

******************************

WHY COMMUNITY THEATER?

- Two major reasons: Interest and Disinterest.

- Interest: There are hundreds of these little local theater groups scattered all around the country (just check out the Internet). Meaning there are thousands of people working and performing in them, professional and non alike. Meaning there are hundreds of thousands of regular theatergoers supporting their work – willing to plunk down ten to twenty bucks (or more) for what is often a narrow restaging of a Broadway chestnut.

Meaning there are millions more shelling out tens of millions more for what will be tomorrow’s Broadway chestnuts.

Interest in theater is, in fact, alive and well, well beyond The Great White Way. Around the country. Even the world (Andrew Lloyd Webber is a billionaire and the U.S. can’t take all